“And I would say, ‘it’s easier to dance with such an adept partner.’” She brushed a hand across Hal’s bicep, feeling the muscle contract at her touch.
“Hey,” Ian interjected, “was that another invitation?”
Hal looked to Quinn for the answer.
“Yes, it was.”
“But don’t pounce on her. Only return what she’s offered you, the light brush of your hand, a casual touch, and watch how she responds.” To prove her point, Hal bounced lightly to the side until her leg touched Quinn’s from the knee to the hip.
Quinn leaned in, lengthening the contact for a few seconds before giving Hal a playful little hip bump and putting some distance between them again.
“See, she just told me she’s open, but she’s not ready to get too close yet.”
“She’s teasing you?” Ian asked.
Hal grinned at Quinn. “Maybe, but that’s part of the fun.”
“We’re giving you the abbreviated version,” Quinn noted to Ian. “Normally this doesn’t all happen in one song. Take your time. Enjoy the process.”
“And you don’t know your girl as well as Quinn and I know each other,” Hal reminded both of them. “Despite what you see on T.V., your goal is not to score tonight.”
“Your goal is not to score, ever,” Quinn said, still dancing, but now choosing her words much more deliberately than her steps. Hal’s allusion to how well they knew each other sparked something deeper, something more emotional in her. It tightened her chest a little bit. How different would their relationship have been if she’d taken the time to get to know her from the start instead of just pushing for what she wanted. “Your goal should be to get to know her. You don’t get to decide what’s best for her. You have to work toward something together. Make sure you let her know you want that, or you might seem predatory.”
“And sometimes when you come on too strong, even if you don’t mean to, it can put her on the defensive,” Hal said, her eyes on Quinn’s and their bodies edging closer with each beat of the bass. “If you make her feel like she’s backed into a corner, her default answer will be no, no matter what you say or do after that.”
“And you’ll have only yourself to blame,” Quinn added.
“It’s sad, really, because a few simple miscues can really spin out of control.” Hal’s gaze fell to Quinn’s lips as they stood only inches apart now. “If you don’t get it under control, you might both miss out on something that could’ve been good.”
“Could’ve been great,” Quinn muttered, taking the last step until her thighs brushed up against Hal.
A knock at the door shattered the moment, causing Ian to jump up. “Thank God, Sully’s here.”
Hal and Quinn moved quickly apart, then turned to stare at him as if suddenly remembering he was an actual person and not just some plot device to allow them to say the things they’d said without saying them directly to one another.
“Hey,” Sully said, sticking her head inside the door. “Ready to go?”
“Past ready,” Ian said.
“Why, what happened?”
Ian glanced over his shoulder at Hal and Quinn. “I have no idea.”
Sully raised her eyebrows. “Really?”
“Dance lesson gone a bit overboard.” Hal offered the explanation as casually as one could expect given how close they’d just been.
“Don’t worry, and be yourself. Your most respectful, honest self.” Quinn tried to recover into big sister mode.
“And have fun,” Hal added.
“Okie dokie, Mom and Dad. You’re not acting weird at all,” Sully said with an eye roll. “Don’t wait up. We’ll be out late. The kid can crash with me tonight.”
“Really?” Ian asked.
“Yeah, I figure someone’s got to be there to protect you from the nightmares you’re bound to have after taking dance lessons from the odd couple over there.”
“Thank you,” Ian said with exaggerated gratitude, or maybe it was genuine.
As soon as the door closed behind them, Quinn turned back to Hal. “We got a little off track there.”
Hal’s smile expressed enough chagrin to convey she understood that, but not enough to hint at true embarrassment. “We did.”
“We could talk about that.”
“We could.”
“Or we could just call it a night.”
“Also a possibility,” Hal agreed, with a raised eyebrow and an outstretched hand. “Or we could dance.”
“Yeah.” Quinn nodded, her chest filling with hope and desire. “I vote for that.”
They’d been in each other’s arms for hours or maybe minutes, Hal didn’t know, and it didn’t seem to matter. With their audience gone, Quinn had quickly burst what was left of both their personal space bubbles. Now she swayed to the hypnotic trance of Kylie Minogue’s “Slow.” Her chest, hips, and legs all pressed lightly against Hal’s. God, she felt amazing, all soft and warm. Hal tightened the hold she had around Quinn’s waist and worked a knee between Quinn’s legs. They’d long ago kicked off their shoes, and Quinn’s bare feet brushed against her own. There was something incredibly intimate in the simple touch. Something sexy, too.
She caressed the small of Quinn’s back through her thin cotton blouse. What were they doing? Earlier Hal had wondered what they’d have left without all the misgivings that had governed their early interactions. They’d stripped away all the business talk, the sharp retorts and suspicion, the defensiveness. Turns out all they had left was a whole lot of attraction. It coursed through her in a low hum of energy like the air right before a thunderstorm.
“Hal,” Quinn whispered, her mouth so close to her neck the warmth of the word spread across her skin.
“Hmm?”
“You finally got me barefoot in the kitchen.”
Hal smiled. “It’s a start. But you’re going to have to explain to me why you’re still wearing khakis and a collared shirt at eleven o’clock on a Saturday night.”
“Fine.” Quinn placed a feather-light kiss on her temple. “But only if you explain your fashion fetish.”
They rocked together, Hal’s thigh pushing more firmly into Quinn, feeling the heat there at her center and stirring a similar warmth in herself. “Seems a fair trade. We could continue talking about clothes all night if you want. Or we could just remove that distraction altogether.”
Quinn smiled against Hal’s cheek. “You are full of good ideas tonight.”
Hal turned her face the inch needed for her lips to find Quinn’s. She’d intended to go slow, to savor, to do all the exploring she’d missed last time, but Quinn had other ideas. She slipped her tongue into Hal’s mouth, and the kiss caught fire once again. What was it about this woman that could spark all the desire her body could hold in just a second of contact? The lightest flick of her tongue against Hal’s stole all her smart retorts, all her cool moves, all her restraint, and she devolved into a ball of need and nerve endings.
Quinn pulled Hal flush against her, holding her tightly as they continued to rock to the electronic thump of the music, now as one body instead of two. They kissed deeply as their energy levels rose so quickly they reached the point where they had to steal heated breaths from the corner of their mouths. Apparently she and Quinn had no lower gear. They jumped from idle right to full speed. Everything else they did, even the most basic interactions, got weighed, analyzed, even agonized over, but the minute their mouths found each other, all forms of logic and restraint disintegrated.
Quinn clutched the T-shirt at Hal’s back, balling it into her fist and causing it to ride up. Hal felt the cool air of her exposed skin only a moment before being replaced by the heat of Quinn’s palm and the press of her fingers. She wanted to feel the same, to mirror the touch and push for more, so she worked her own hands under the hem of Quinn’s shirt, closing them around the curve of her waist and sliding them up. Kneading as she went, she wanted to massage every inch of her smooth, hot skin, and the shirt only got in the wa
y.
Oh yeah, the clothes were the problem. That’s what started this whole thing happening between them now. No, this thing started long before tonight, and somehow even in her haze, she understood it wouldn’t end tonight, either, and at least in the moment she could admit to herself she didn’t want it to. She wanted Quinn, in multiple ways, in every way, and she didn’t want that to end. But now wasn’t the time to think about what she’d want tomorrow. She had plenty of desire to hold her for this moment. Withdrawing her hands from inside Quinn’s shirt, she worked back up from the outside, flipping open buttons as she went. With the last one sprung, she pushed the fabric off her shoulders and replaced it with her mouth.
She licked and sucked the elegant line of Quinn’s collarbone and down her chest to the thin line of lace at the top of her bra. The fabric suddenly enticed her, and she cupped it in her hands. So soft, so inviting. Teasing, squeezing, she ran her fingers over the nipples pushing against their restraint.
Quinn trembled beneath her and sank a hand into Hal’s hair, pinning her head down for a moment before tightening her fingers and pulling back. Hal met her eyes, finding them a much darker shade of blue now.
“I’m not doing this standing up again.”
“Bed?” Hal asked.
Quinn nodded and recaptured her mouth. Her tongue was hot and damn talented. Hal felt a rush of her own heat spreading through her again at the thought of that tongue in other places. She had to get them both naked, and fast. They stumbled together, trying to walk and kiss without lessening any of the contact between them. Hal moved backward, trying to pull Quinn with her, but every few steps they got lost, blinded with lust and driven to move only toward each other.
They made it as far as the living room before they stopped again. This time Quinn groped at Hal’s shirt, pushing it up roughly and raking her fingernails across her abs and stomach. They pulled apart enough to remove the shirt and steal a couple more breaths. Hal glanced up the stairs Ian had taken two at a time, but they suddenly seemed Everest-esque in their height. Turning back frantically, she spotted an easier path.
“Couch?” she asked, nodding her head toward the nearest flat surface.
“Brilliant,” Quinn mumbled and gave her a shove in that direction.
Hal stumbled the few steps she needed, then caught Quinn’s arm and pulled her close again. The now-bare skin of their stomachs met, but the bra that had seemed so enthralling moments ago served only as a barrier now. She flipped open the clasp and ran her hands back over Quinn’s shoulders, slipping the straps down as she went. The bra dropped silently to the floor, revealing a perfection even better than she’d remembered, but before she could touch or taste the way she longed to, Quinn placed her palms flat against her chest and pushed. The back of her legs hit the couch, and she dropped easily. Sinking into the thick cushions, Hal let her hands rest on her knees and her head loll back as she relaxed into the stunning view of Quinn standing, bare chested and beautiful, before her. She reached out to touch, but Quinn shook her head.
She obeyed the silent command and watched as Quinn unclasped the front of her khakis. She slowly lowered the zipper before allowing them to join the rest of her clothes on the hardwood floor. Then hooking her thumbs in the waistband of her cream-colored bikini briefs, she rolled her hips in the most delicious little shimmy Hal had ever seen. Like some silly cliché, her mouth watered at the sight of her, a puddle of lust, transfixed as the last piece of clothing fell away.
“God, Quinn.” She almost choked on her need, and her hips lifted off the couch of their own accord. Did she even know? Could she even begin to understand what the sight of her naked and ready did to Hal? Of course she knew. She had to. She’d played, teased, hinted at this kind of power since the moment they met. Quinn had known she could have this all along. And quite frankly, so had Hal. Refusing to acknowledge the truth didn’t alter it. And why had she even wanted to?
The animal needs clawed at her, fully awake now and roaring to be released. She practically growled. “I want you so fucking bad.”
Quinn’s smile was slow but not shy as she stepped forward and placed a knee on each side of Hal’s thighs. Then leaning close, she whispered, “Take me.”
All awareness fled as Hal took hold of Quinn’s hips and lowered her over her lap, then cupping her ass, pulled her roughly forward. Her perfect breasts swayed within reach of Hal’s mouth, and she caught them, sucking, nipping, playing with one, then the other. Quinn arched her back, pushing her chest forward as she rocked her hips against Hal’s crotch. Apparently she had a few animal instincts of her own to satisfy. She sank her fingers back into the hair at the base of Hal’s scalp and held her tightly in place while she reached behind herself for Hal’s hand. Intertwining their fingers, she gave her a little squeeze before she pulled it forward and guided Hal between her legs.
Not normally one to follow when her own needs screamed to be met, Hal quickly decided to make an exception when she felt the sheen of wet heat coating Quinn’s inner thighs. Her hips jumped again at the further proof she wasn’t the only one on the verge of losing control, and she needed no more invitation to satisfy both their needs at once. Working her hand loose from Quinn’s, she slipped through blond curls.
“Inside,” Quinn panted.
She thought briefly about making her ask nicely, but who was she kidding? She was going to give her what she wanted, what they both wanted, and neither of them were in any shape to wait.
Curling two fingers, she pressed fast and steady, burying herself as far as she could in a single move.
Quinn moaned, throwing her head back as she ground down on her hand and still pinned Hal’s mouth to her breast. She was amazingly long and lithe, writhing against her, closing around her. She surrounded her and filled her every breath like a hot wind carrying the scent of an impending storm. Only in their case, the storm had already arrived. It crackled with electricity around them and roared like thunder through Hal’s ears. She pressed on her back, sucked, bit, licked her chest. Every part of her ached to connect with a part of Quinn, and they both worked to meet those needs.
As Quinn rocked up and down against her hand, she used her thumb to rub against Quinn’s clit and felt her alter her rhythm to search out the new contact. Her body was so beautifully responsive. It clearly wouldn’t take much friction to set her off, and that’s exactly what Hal wanted to do. She wanted to feel her come undone. She wanted to be the one to undo her. The next time Quinn rose up even a little bit, Hal followed her, increasing her pressure both inside and out.
Quinn gasped at the added contact and dropped her head forward until it rested against Hal. “Yes.” The word came out on a hoarse whisper. “Don’t stop.”
“Never,” Hal muttered against her skin as she worked her hand in and out among Quinn’s slick folds, making sure she hit the spots that got the best reactions. Quinn whimpered her feedback as the motion of her hips grew erratic. Hal had to work to keep her hold with the constricting position, but she wasn’t about to move. She had everything she wanted literally in her lap.
“Yes, right there.” Quinn found her voice again and pressed into her, trapping her wrist between their bodies. “Don’t stop.”
Hal wouldn’t have dared, not with the most perfect body she’d ever been under beginning to quake above her. Quinn threw her head back, arching up and clutching tightly to Hal’s shoulders as they rocked together, suspended on the crest of the wave they’d built between them. Hal watched in awe as Quinn’s eyes closed and her lips parted, while tremors of release shook along the entire length of that gorgeous arc. Her perfection ripped at Hal’s chest, expanding it, making room for emotions she wasn’t yet ready to process.
“Yes, Hal, yes.” She exhaled one more heavy, shuddering breath, then fell forward, skin against sweat-soaked skin as they melted back together.
Quinn lay spent against Hal’s chest. She took uneven breaths, the quick thump-thumping of Hal’s heartbeat under her palm. There was somethin
g soothing about the rapid pace of the flutter, like the brush of hummingbird wings against her skin.
She blinked away the glaze of her afterglow. Where had such a poetic image sprung from? What they’d just done wasn’t delicate or sweet, and any animal allusions they’d inspired were surely more ferocious than fragile. She and Hal did not have the kind of relationship that lent itself to the flowery or romantic. Then again, she honestly didn’t know what kind of relationship they had at all anymore. It didn’t include business, at least not overtly. It did include some deep conversation on at least one occasion, but that had yet to be repeated. It didn’t seem to include much mutual interest. They had a bit of history, but no discernible future. There didn’t seem to be much connecting them or their encounters, unless you considered a few bouts of mind-blowing sex.
She pushed herself back and stared at Hal. Her dark eyes held the same sheen of sated lust, and her black hair stood out in places from the combing of Quinn’s fingers. Her tan chest rose and fell in the same deep, steady breaths Quinn sought, and her skin flushed warm with the remnants of their exertion. She looked utterly disheveled and seriously sexy. A low hunger stirred deep in the pit of her stomach. The pull Quinn felt toward tenderness may have been disconcerting, but it was also fleeting. The hunger, the desire, those they had no trouble sustaining.
She leaned back down and drew her tongue along the curve of Hal’s neck in a slow, deliberate swipe, smelling smoke and tasting salt. Hal’s muscles rippled beneath her, and her fingers curled between Quinn’s legs again. The twinge of hunger rose into a roaring need, but not for a second helping of the same course. She’d been thoroughly consumed. Now was her time to do the devouring. She clasped her hand around Hal’s wrist and extracted it from between them, trying not to lose her resolve as Hal dragged her finger across her clit on the way out.
“Not this time, Fryboi,” she said through gritted teeth.
Hal’s smile was lazy and self-assured. “What? Can’t take the heat?”
Perfect Pairing Page 17